Thermostat



June 3, 1930. l. T. VVEIDIN I I 1,761,946

THERMO STAT Filed Dec. 51, 1928 Fatented June 3., I936 meme WAR '1..WEDIN', F FLINT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO A C SPARK PLUG COMPANY, OF

FLINT, MICHIGAN, A COMEANY OF MICHIGAN THERMOSTAT Application filedDecember 31, 1928. Serial No. 329,330.

' This invention relates to automatically op-' erated devices andparticularly to an improvement in valves that govern fluid flowcondenser where it gives up its heat and-then in accordance withtemperature of the fluid. While the field of usefulness'ofthe inventionis not limited, it will be found to be particularly adaptable for use inconnection with the cooling system of an internal combustion engine,wherein water or other cooling liquid after taking up heat in the enginejacket or Water chamber flows through a radiator or returns to the waterchamber. It will be understood'that when the engine is first started,

the engine and all the liquid in the cooling system is cold and maximumefficiency is not obtained until after the engine has had time to warmup. Obviously, if the circulation of radiator, and which embodied avalve that is 3o pendent upon temperature of the liquid in automaticallyoperated by and directly de- 7 the cooling system to control the flowtherethrough.

' Another object of the invention is to provide an improved type ofthermostatically operated valve unit which is of simple constfuction soas to promote ease and economy of manufacture and which will be positivein action and unlikely to get out of order, and which furthermore may bereadily installed either as standard equipment on new engines I or as anaccessory on existing engines.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unit wherein abi-metallic spring strap of substantially U-shape is employed to holdthe valve closed and to open the valve as it expands under temperatureincrease, andto provide an improved and simple means for adjusting theparts and setting the tension of the spring loop prior to theintroduction of the unit in the system, so that the valve will beoperated at a desired predetermined temperature, and will require nofurther attention thereafter.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingspecification, when taken with the accompanying drawing illustrating apreferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein Fig. 1 is alongitudinal sectional view of the temperature control valve unit; Fig.2 is an end elevation of the unit and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectionalview taken on line 33 of Fig. l.

In the drawing the reference character 1 in- I dicates a butterfly orplate valve having in the center thereof a depressed cup-shaped portion2, the side walls of which are provided at opposite points withoutwardly pressed osses 0r teats 3 that are journaled in openngs in theends of a pair of forwardly projecting arms 4 on a carrier or frame 5.The

frame 5,.which in the present instance, comprises parallel side portionsand arcuate end portions, is mounted in a cylindrical housing or casing6 preferably formed from seamless tubing. The frame 5 is held in placeby pressing outwardly projecting bosses 7 in adjacent surfaces of thearcuate end portions of v the frame and the wall of the tube 6, therebyeliminating rivet and bolt openings and the possibility of leakage ofliquid flowing through the passageway provided by the easing or tubing6.

A lei-metallic thermo-sensitive spring element 8 of substantiallyU-shape has one end reversely bent as at 9 and fixedly secured as bysoldering, welding or the like to the frame 5,-and has its other endprojecting through an opening in the portion 2' and curled over to forman eye 10 through which projects a pivot pin 11 having its opposite endsprojecting into depressions or openings such as would be'formed byoutwardly pressed b sses 12 in the side Wall of the cup 2. The openingthrough which the end of the thermo-sensitive element 8 projects, servesalso to provide a bleed or leak hole past the valve 1.

When the water surrounding the element 8 is cold, the tension of thespring loop holds the valve in closed position to prevent the flow ofthe liquid through the unit. Upon increase in temperature, the tendencyfor the loop will be to expand or enlarge with the re- 'sult that thevalve 1 will be swung about its pivot to a substantially horizontalposition so as to allow liquid flow.

An important feature of the present invention is the provision of a stopor abutment finger 13 which may be formed integral with the frame 5, andwhich contacts with one side of the loop 8 to hold it underpredetermined tension. By bending the finger or tongue 13 to and fro,the size of the loop and its tension may be varied and, therefore, theamount of tension that the heat must take up before the valve will openmay be controlled. After the parts are completely assembled, the tongue13.

is bent forwardly or rearwardly to secure the desired degree of springtension so that the valve will operate at a predetermined temperaturecondition. That is, a forward or rearward movement of the tongue variesthe tension, and the action of the heat will open the valve sooner orlateras the case may be.

While tlieinventionhas been described more or less specifically, it isto be understood that it is not limited to the exact details shown,

\ but that such modifications may be made as come within the scopeof'appended claims I claim: '1. A device of the character described, in-

cluding a tubular housing adapted for ining into depressions in the sidewalls of saiddepressed portion of the valve, a bi-metallicthermo-sensit-ive spring strap of U-shape having one end curled aroundsaid pivot pinand its opposite end secured to said frame, adapted toswing said valve about its pivot'to control fluid flou through thepassageway by its expansion and contraction under temperature changes ofthe fluid, and. a stop-finger for the sprin strap carried by said frameand adj ust-. ablefbr varying the tension of said strap to. control theopening of the valve in accordance with predetermined temperatures.

2. A device of the character described including, a tubular housingadaptedv for in-- sertion in a liquid passageway, a valvein saidpassageway to control the liquid flow therethrough, athermo-sensitiveelement governing the operation of said valve inaccordance with liquid temperature, a sheet metal frame pivotallysupporting said valve and carrying metal frame into depressions in thehousing.

3. A device of the character described, in-- cluding a tubular housingadapted for inser tion in a fluid passageway,a frame carried by andwithin said -housing having forwardly projecting arms, a plate valvehaving a de-v pressed central portionprovided with projections in itsside walls extending into openings in said arms to pivotally supportsaid valve and a thermo-sensitive element carried by the frame andconnected with the valve to swing the valve and control fluid flowthrough the passageway in accordance with fluid temperature- 4. A'deviceof the characterdescribed, in-. cluding a housing adapted for insertionin a fluidpassageway, a frame secured within said housing, a butterfly.valve for controlling fluid flow through the housing and having adepressed portion providedwith projections in its side walls that-extend into bearings in the framev and by means of which the valve ispivotally supported, anda thermo-sensitive element carried by the frameand operatively connected with the valve to control the position of thevalve according to temperature. conditions of the fluid.

.5. Adevice of the character described, in-

eluding a housing adapted for insertion in a fluid passageway, abutterfly valve controlling fluid flow, a thermo-sensitive springelement operatively connected with the valve to automatically controlthe valve according to the temperature of the fluid,a frame secured insaid housing and pivotally supporting said valve and carrying saidthermosensitive spring, and an integral tongue on the frame forming anabutment for the thermo-sensitive spring and being adjustable to governthe operation'of the valve at predetermined fluid temperatures. 6. Adevice of the character 'cludinga housing forming a part of a fluidpassageway, a valvegovern ng fluid flow through the passageway, asupport in the housing on which-the-valve is pivoted, a U- shapedthermors ensitive element having one end -connected with the valve andthe other end secured tosaidsupport whereby the .4

valve is automatically swung about its pivot with the expansion andcontraction of the ,thermo-sensitive element upon temperature changes,and an adjustable abutment for an passageway, a valve governing fluidflow through the passageway,'a support'in the housing on which the.valve is pivoted,.a U-

p 110 described, in-

i shaped thermo-se'nsitive spring connected at opposite ends with thevalve and the support to automatically operate the valve in accordancewith variations in fluid temperature, and an integral tongue on thesupport for abutment with the spring, said tongue being adjustable tovary the tension of the spring and thereby govern operation of the valveat I predetermined fluid temperature.

8. In a device of the character described, a support, a valve pivoted onthe support, a

' thermo-sensitive element comprising a U- shaped spring having oppositeends connect ed with the valve and said support, and an abutment forcontact with an intermediate portion of said spring carried on saidsupport, and movable to vary the tension of said spring, wherebyadjustment may be made to effect operation of the valve at predeterminedg temperatures.

9. In a device of the character described, a support, a valve pivoted onthe support, a thermo-sensitive element having a spring loop therein andconnected at opposite ends. with the valve and the support toautomatically operate the valve upon temperature .changes and anabutment on the support for an intermediate portion of said element,which is movable to vary' the size of said loop and thereby governvalve' operation in accordance with predetermined temperature changes.

10. In a, device of the character described, a valve, a thermo-sensitiveelement having a 85 spring loop therein, which varies in size withtemperature changes, and having one end fixed and the 'oppos ite endconnected with the valve to automatically control the valve inaccordance with temperature conditions, 40 and meansassociated with an.intermediate portion of the loop to initially set the size and tensionot the loop to effect operation of the valve at a predeterminedtemperature.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature. IVAR T. WEDIN.

